Amazon is giving away a Sony a6000 Mirrorless Camera – head here for your chance to win
It’s the season of giving, and many fine retailers around the globe have done their part to make sure we’re getting the best deals on the hottest products. Amazon is one of those retailers. They’ve brought us numerous deals on tablets, smartphones and more this holiday season, and now they’re kicking it up a notch.
Over the next two weeks Amazon will be hosting a few giveaways, where users will be able to enter and win a gadget featured in Amazon’s Electronics Gift Guide. All you need to do is head to the link attached below, click on the bouncing box, and it will tell you if you’ve won or not. First up on the giveaway list is a doozy – Amazon is giving away the Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera, complete with a 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens. This camera would normally cost you almost $550, but if you’re lucky, you may be able to score it for free!
The camera will be awarded to the 6,500th eligible entrant. The contest just started today, and ends on Friday, December 18th at 11:59 p.m. PST, or whenever the prize has been awarded.
Well, darn.
If you suffered the same fate as me, you can always check out the camera on Amazon to see if it’s right for you.
NASA’s using PlayStation VR to train its space robots
Virtual Reality tricks the human brain. With a headset strapped on your face, you can pet a dino, visit restricted sites or even experience the horror of being devoured by a shark. But outside the realms of entertainment and news, the immersive visual medium is proving to be a significant tool for science and learning. According to a Road to VR report, NASA and Sony have been working together on Mighty Morphenaut, a PlayStation VR demo that allows operators to practice control over a humanoid in space. The experience recreates the robot’s environment, essentially a simulated space shuttle, so that a user can learn how to get the humanoid to complete a task or move around obstacles from a safe distance.
NASA’s longtime efforts to build a dexterous humanoid for space explorations led to the rise of Robonauts — dexterous humanoids that are designed to assist or even replace humans in space. According to their site on Robonauts, “one advantage of a humanoid design is that [it] can take over simple, repetitive, or especially dangerous tasks on places such as the International Space Station.” While the space agency has made strides in building the machine and sending it to the ISS (Robotnaut 2 was successfully launched into space in 2011), it continues to work on ways to control the humanoid from a distance.
The Mighty Morphenaut demo, which runs on a PS4, allows operators to use a PlayStation VR headset to look around and make quick decisions based on the robot’s environment in real-time. The robot then follows the cues from the Move controllers to imitate the motions of the operator. But, given the distances between a remote operator and a space robot, a lag between the two is inevitable. The report points out that the demo takes those delays into account and introduces “ghost hands” that react to the operator, while the robot’s movement follow later. The feature makes it easier for the operator to understand the lapses in movements, but without practice, it can be challenging to interact with flying objects aboard a space shuttle. It might be a while before NASA’s space humanoid is controlled with the required accuracy, but for now the medium of VR could teach it a trick or two.
[Image credit: Getty Images]
Source: Road to VR
Deal: Get the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua from Amazon for just $150
Looking for a great Android smartphone that won’t break the bank? If so, we have a deal that may be worth your while. Right now, you can purchase a brand new unlocked Sony Xperia M4 Aqua for only $149.99 from Amazon. Considering that the normal retail price of this handset is somewhere around $200-$250, this is quite the deal.
This deal only lasts until 7 p.m. EST or 6 p.m. CST (or while supplies last), so you’d better hurry if you’re interested! This is the unlocked model with 16 gigabytes of on-board storage. It’s also compatible with GSM networks, so you can activate it on AT&T or T-Mobile’s networks. It also comes with a warranty from Sony, which is a really nice bonus.
See also: Best Sony Xperia M4 Aqua Cases
So what do you get with Sony’s Xperia M4 Aqua? It comes with a 5.0-inch 720p display, an octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor, 2 gigabytes of RAM and microSD expansion up to 128GB. It also comes with a 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, a 2400mAh battery and an IP68 dust and water resistance rating. This might not be the most high-powered smartphone on the market, but it’s certainly worth it for the price point.
As noted above, this deal only lasts for a very limited time, so follow the link below as soon as you can.
Two Xperia Z6 models coming from Sony next year
The mobile division at Sony hasn’t been very successful in recent years, but the company still tries to be a big player in the industry. Sony continues to release waves of new products, sometimes with odd variations that don’t have a clear place in the world while largely ignoring the United States and only sending aged devices there for no one to buy. Because of its struggles, a new focus has been put on image sensors. Both Softkinetic Systems and Toshiba’s entire image sensor business have been purchased in 2015. And as we’re approaching a new year, a report shows that Sony will not be slowing down its efforts to flood the world with new hardware.
Since the company will keep its mobile division operating for the foreseeable future, you can expect to see the Xperia Z6 launch in 2016. CnBeta is claiming that Sony plans to release two Xperia Z6 models with an emphasis on metal being prominent in their design. This would be a departure from practically ever other Xperia device released that is a plain slab of glass. Inside, the source says that Sony is going with Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 820 processor. But it’s unknown if we’re looking at a Compact, Mini, Ultra, or Premium models in addition to a regular Xperia Z6.
It doesn’t look like we’ll be any of Sony’s plans for the Xperia line at CES 2016 next month, though. The invite to the company’s press conference and booth place no emphasis on phones or anything from the Xperia line.
Come comment on this article: Two Xperia Z6 models coming from Sony next year
Here are the videos you don’t want to miss this week – December 12, 2015
If you’re interested in mobile technology in the slightest, you’ve probably been asked the question “What’s the best Android smartphone you can buy?” Of course, there’s no correct answer – no smartphone is perfect, and not every mobile device can take care of everyone’s needs. To help answer this question, we’ve just introduced our Best of Android series, which pits the best smartphones on the market against each other in hopes to find out which one is the best in a particular category. You can find all of the videos we’ve posted so far, and be sure to stay tuned over the next few days while we bring you more comparisons and our results roundup video.
And that’s not all. We also managed to bring you full reviews of the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium, Meizu Pro 5 and Lenovo Yoga Tab 3. We’ve also published our full comparison of the Nexus 5X and the OnePlus X, as well as a few other great videos.
So without any further ado, here are all the Android-related videos you don’t want to miss this week.
Best of Android 2015
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We’re comparing the best smartphones from Google, Motorola, BlackBerry, Sony, LG and Samsung in our Best of Android series. So far we’ve published our display, audio, performance, battery and camera tests, and we still have UX and the big results roundup videos on their way. Interested in seeing what’s the best Android phone out there? Follow the links attached below to get the full comparisons.
- Best of Android 2015: Display
- Best of Android 2015: Audio
- Best of Android 2015: Performance
- Best of Android 2015: Battery
- Best of Android 2015: Camera
Reviews
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review
The “world’s first 4K smartphone” is finally here, and we’ve just published our full review of the new device. Is a 4K display worth it? How does it affect the phone’s battery life? We find that out, and more, in our full review of the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium.
Meizu Pro 5 review
The Meizu Pro 5 might be the best flagship smartphone to ever come from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, but does it come with any caveats? Don’t miss Lanh’s full review of the Pro 5 from Meizu.
Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 review
Last week we brought you our full review of the Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro, and now it’s time to take a look at the tablet’s more affordable brother, the Yoga Tab 3. Is it worth the money? Check out Bailey’s full review to learn more.
Battle of the high-end, affordable flagships
OnePlus X vs Nexus 5X
If you don’t have a ton of money to spend on a new smartphone, that’s okay. The budget-friendly tier of smartphones have been getting really good lately, with a ton of options on the market to choose from. We just recently compared the latest smartphones from Google and OnePlus against each other in hopes to find out which one comes out on top. Check out Krystal’s full comparison of the OnePlus X and the Nexus 5X.
Android Apps Weekly
Take VR photos yourself, The Room 3, goodbye forever Songza – you don’t want to miss the latest episode of Joe’s Android Apps Weekly show!
Fresh from the rumor mill
Samsung Galaxy S7 rumor roundup
It’s that time of year again! No, I’m not talking about the holidays. I’m talking about new Samsung flagship rumors, of course! We’ve already seen a boatload of rumors and bits of speculation floating around the web, so we found it important to put them all in one place. Bogdan’s full rumor roundup is attached below, and you can check out Jayce’s video overview above.
Samsung Galaxy S7 – first alleged CAD images leak
It wouldn’t be rumor season without some leaked images. Could these be the first CAD images of the Samsung Galaxy S7? Be sure to check out Matthew’s full post and Jayce’s video overview for more info.
iOS and Android are both great. Here are some reasons to consider switching to Android.
I know I am going to get my fair share of hate emails and comments from this post, but I beg you try to keep an open mind when reading through this article. I understand that the whole Apple iOS versus Google Android debate is a heated topic for many, and expect comments on both sides of the fence. Let’s try to keep the comments civil.
I am going to do my best to explain why Android is a great alternative to iOS and try to avoid the whole Android is better than iOS debate as best as I can. I think both platforms are successful and by no means are Google or Apple struggling for cash. Monetarily you can say both are pretty darn successful. Apple is worth more money based on market value, but Google has more market share. I know that I will have a decent amount of bias towards Android, since I do use Android as my primary platform, and I also write for a website called AndroidGuys.
But it is in my nature to look at all things with an open mind: I am a scientist at a biotech in San Diego, and it is my job to investigate and offer answers with actual information to back it up. Any good scientist uses the Scientific Method to ask questions, investigate, acquire knowledge, and to use evidence to develop conclusions based on results. Once a conclusion is developed it is my job to test it and to prove it.
In my immediate family we are split 50/50 in what mobile software we use. My father uses an iPhone 6S+ and my older brother uses an iPhone 6 at my recommendation. Both of them started with the Apple iPhone, and are the type who prefer to stick with what works and to stay within one ecosystem. iPhone’s have great cameras, software, design, build, customer support and more. Just because I use Android doesn’t mean I force it on my own family.
My mother uses a Samsung Galaxy Note 4, and I use a a wide variety of Android devices like the Nexus 6P, 5X, Asus Zenfone 2 and the Doogee F5. My older sister uses an iPhone 5S, and she also uses an Android LG G2 too. So even in my own family, we are split 50/50 on what platform we use.
My devices
So let’s put the debate of what is better behind us. Let’s just take a look at Android and why it is a good alternative to iOS.
Let’s start with the most important factor: Price
iPhone 6S 4.7″ 16GB – $649
iPhone 6S+ 5.5″ 16GB – $749
Whether you buy an iPhone on a 0% financing plan, two-year contract, or in full, you’re going to pay a heck of a lot of money. Because Apple is the only company who makes the iPhone, the price stays relatively unchanged throughout the course of its one-year life cycle. Apple owns a monopoly on its products and can charge accordingly. It’s quite rare to see any technological device hold its value so well, but the iPhone does it regardless. And it even has incredible resale value. Apple controls its mobile market share by not making iOS accessible to other manufacturers.
Samsung Galaxy S6 5.1″ 32GB – $679.99
Samsung Galaxy Note 5.7″ 32GB – $699.99
Nexus 6P 5.7″ 32GB – $499.99
Nexus 5X 5.2″ 16GB – $379.99
There are dozens of Android device manufacturers. There are so many that I can’t even find an accurate count on the web. I listed the biggest Android device manufacturer in Samsung, and I also listed Google’s pure Android Nexus devices. Android phones can be expensive too. It’s difficult to do a direct comparison to iPhones, because the Samsung S6 line has been out since the Spring, while the iPhone 6S and Note 5 line have only been out since the Fall. Internal hardware varies greatly from device to device too.
The prices for the Galaxy line devices are clearly almost identical to the iPhone, with the Galaxy devices offering more base storage than the iPhone. Google’s own Nexus devices are $180-300 cheaper than the iPhone which means you can save money with pure Android devices. On top of the initial MSRP savings, Android prices drop much faster, but at the same time have terrible resale value. Overall, the upfront fees can be much cheaper when buying an Android device.
Letv 1s 5.5″ 32GB – $238
Nuu Mobile Z8 5.5″ 16GB – $249.99
Nu Mobile Z8
Who? Who the heck is Letv and Nuu Mobile? I know you have heard of Motorola, but the Letv 1s and the Nuu Mobile Z8 are example devices that come unlocked with fantastic features. They also run the same Android software that the more expensive devices like the Note 5 and S line run. You haven’t heard of Letv because they are focused on the Chinese market.Nuu Mobile is a up and coming Android device manufacturer with a small budget and can’t afford to blast advertisements around the world.
And just because these devices are cheaper, doesn’t mean they lack in hardware.
Letv 1s
Main Features:
Display: 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 FHD Screen
CPU: MTK6795 64bit Octa Core 2.2GHz
System: Android 5.0
RAM + ROM: 3GB RAM + 32GB ROM
Camera: Dual Cameras, front camera 5.0MP camera, back camera 13.0MP
Nuu Mobile Z8 5.5″
Main Features:
Display: 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 FHD Screen
CPU: 1.7 GHz Octa-Core Processor, MediaTek MTK6752 64-bit
System: Android 5.0
RAM + ROM: 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM
Camera: Dual Cameras, front camera 8.0MP camera, back camera 13.0MP
Android software is easy to use, is secure, can be customized, and Google apps are loaded with features
Again, I’m not here to argue that Android is better than iOS. Both email, text, make phone calls, browse the web, play videos and music, and take pictures incredibly well. There is no arguing that both platforms do the basics with ease.
The iPhone just works. I know it does. But that doesn’t mean Android devices don’t work. Many of us, me included, got started with iOS. I bought the first iPhone on the day it was released and waited in line for every subsequent release until the iPhone 5. I made the switch to Android when I took the time to evaluate the software with an open mind. Android is as safe as iOS and iOS is as safe as Android. Both Apple and Google make security the top priority for their software. Don’t buy into all of the misinformation out there about one being safer than the other.
The other sad truth is no software is bug free. Both Android and iOS have their fair share of bugs which is the reason why they release updates.
Google Search
Just “Google” it. Google’s search tools are so powerful that many of us have swapped the word “search” for the company name Google. The dominance of Google search is so overwhelming that the name Google has become a verb. We don’t say just Apple it, Yahoo it, or Microsoft it. Many of us say just “Google” it because Google has become synonymous with searching and researching unknowns. It like calling tissue “Kleenex”, lip balm “Chapstick”, or cotton swap “Q-Tips”.
Google owns the market share when it comes to searching, and Google Search is native to Android devices making it a super powerful tool. Yes you can download Google Search software onto iOS devices, but there are benefits to being native. You can “Google” directly from any screen on an Android device, while it constantly keeps you up to date on weather, stock prices, news, parking location and more through Google Now.
Google Photos
Arguably the best feature about Google Photos is that you have unlimited storage for FREE. Once backed up, you can access your photos from anywhere you have an internet connection and a web browser. You no longer need to worry about saving your most precious memories on back-up hard drives with Google Photos.
Here are some other great features taken directly from the app landing page:
VISUAL SEARCH
Your photos are now searchable by the places and things that appear in them. Looking for that fish taco you ate in Hawaii? Just search “food in Hawaii” to find it – no tagging required.
FREE UP SPACE ON YOUR DEVICE
Never worry about running out of space on your phone again. In Settings, just tap “Free up device storage” – photos that are safely backed up will be removed from your device’s storage, but will still be available in Google Photos.
BRING PHOTOS TO LIFE
Enjoy automatically created montage movies, interactive stories, collages, animations, panoramas, and more from your photos. Or you can easily create them yourself – just tap +.
SHARED ALBUMS
Get everyone’s photos and videos in one place, across iOS, Android, and the web. Privately sharing all the photos you took – and getting the ones you didn’t – has never been easier.
Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive
Google has its own answer for word processing, spreadsheet editing, presentation building, file storage and collaboration all for the price of nothing. Most of us learned how to use these tools using Microsoft Office, but Google created its own powerful tools and they are native to Android as well. Just like with Google Photos, all Google Docs are accessible from tablets to smartphones to desktops. And Google Docs is also compatible with Microsoft file types, while offering almost all of the same powerful features.
An alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides offers a great and free way to make presentations.
Google Docs is an online word processor that lets you create and format text documents and collaborate with other people in real time.
Google Sheets is a web-based spreadsheet application that allows you to store and organize different types of information, much like Microsoft Excel.
Project Fi
Project Fi is Google’s answer to cellular service. It isn’t Google’s own network – they have partnered with providers to offer its own affordable plan. Only select Nexus devices(Nexus 6, 6P and 5X) can access Project Fi, but it is a strong reason to give consideration to Android. Project Fi is still very new so this reason is highly debatable. But here are some reasons to consider it:
Project Fi is a combination of Sprint and T-Mobile
Project Fi coverage map
What’s included in the Fi Basics?
What happens if you go over your data budget?
You can bring your own number to Fi
Like any other provider, you can simply transfer your number when you sign up.
Android Wear
Wearables are taking hold in the marke,t and Android is at the forefront. Yes, Apple has its own watch too, which is great in its own right, but there is much more selection with Android. Tag Heuer, Fossil, Asus, LG, Samsung, Motorola, and Huawei are some of the major manufacturers of Android Wear devices, and the list continues to grow. With Android Wear you can monitor your activity levels, open apps, search and text using just your voice, get notifications, see the time and more.
Android Wear watches feature always-on displays, so you’ll always see important info like time, calls, and alerts. Respond to messages right from your watch, even when your phone isn’t with you.
Works with your Android phone or iPhone
Android Wear requires a phone running Android 4.3+ or iOS 8.2+. Supported features may vary between platforms. Visit g.co/wearcheck on your Android phone or iPhone to see if it’s compatible.
Android Wear is native to Android and is a great reason to consider Google’s software as an option.
You should consider Android if you don’t use it already
No I don’t work for Google, even though sometimes I wish I did. Google employees get get free food and drinks just for showing up to work! I have been to the Google campus, and they even let guests eat and drink for free. I hope Google let’s me hangout at its campus again some day in the future. It truly is an experience I will never forget.
Instead, I work for a biotech and research neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Schizophrenia, and the like. We get free coffee and tea, but I am not complaining. Nothing is more gratifying to me than working to solve unmet medical needs.
It’s my job to look at problems objectively, to ask questions, to research and to develop conclusions based on evidence.
In no way am I arguing that Android is superior to iOS, or vice versa, but I am offering reasons why you should consider Android if you are not using it now. There are fantastic devices like the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 or the Nexus 6P that offer the latest and greatest hardware, or there are fantastic alternatives like the Letv 1s or Nuu Mobile Z8 which offer great hardware for budget conscience users.
The software is also incredible and better yet, the applications Google provides are completely free to use.
If you would like to learn more, head on over to Google.com. No you don’t have to switch to Android – there are plenty of great features on iOS too.
My favorite Android commercial.
The post iOS and Android are both great. Here are some reasons to consider switching to Android. appeared first on AndroidGuys.
In hacking, the blame game is purely for entertainment
As the holidays approach, I find myself missing the drama and spectacle of the Sony hack.
You know, the kind of drama where a movie studio realizes it’s under attack and decides that overacting will save the film. Or that threatening journalists to stop writing about it will put an end to all those “bad reviews” everyone’s suddenly writing about Sony security. The holidays were made for this sort of thing. Can you even remember any of last year’s Christmas specials? No. That’s because watching Sony utterly fail to handle the epic breach with grace or wisdom was way more entertaining than seeing anything on ice last December.
And then the whole twist, where FireEye points the finger at North Korea as a sort-of “red scare’ Krampus in act three, well, that must be what people mean when they talk about the magic of Hollywood. Now, that’s entertainment.
As accustomed as we are to hearing there’s a huge new breach every week, we’re getting equally used to some insider lay the blame on China. With every breach-attribution cycle, hackers roll their eyes when headlines and PR firms whip out the same-old terms, methods and culprits. The chorus of “Chinese hackers did it” and lately “Russian hackers did it” has led to a lot of ridicule and no small amount of vocal annoyance from hackers in all quadrants.
The thing is, all that snark and frustration has some very legitimate grounding in reality.
Attribution is seldom fast, neat, easy or reliably accurate. Naming who did it can be near to impossible, even though that seems to be what PR departments and out-of-the-loop executives believe is the answer.
This is especially true because the name of the game for serious attackers is obfuscating one’s tracks with “false flags.” As in, leaving misleading clues, like hints of a specific country’s language or planting markers that implicate another attacker. Either way, it’s really easy to get attribution wrong.
Less than a month ago, the U.S. charged three Israeli men for hacking and robbing JPMorgan Chase & Co, in what is the largest-ever theft of customer data from a U.S. financial institution (and one of the biggest breaches to date). A fourth culprit, and American citizen, is still at large and wanted by the FBI. Except when news of the breach hit in August 2014, it was reported that “some members of the bank’s security team to tell outside consultants that they believed the hackers had been aided by the hidden hand of the Russian government” — and attribution was firmly assigned to Russia.
On top of issues with accuracy, attribution is seen by most as a waste of time for defenders because attribution has nothing to do with strategy. Matthew Monte, author of Network Attacks And Exploitation: A Framework, nailed it when he wrote, “What does full attribution change? Nation states maintain their innocence with an ever-weakening shield of plausible deniability as mountains of evidence pile up against them. … But do not expect blame to slow down espionage.”
Despite the follies of attribution, breached organizations seem inclined to use blame as a get-out-of-bad-PR card. The Sony Pictures Entertainment hack was mainstream America’s first real taste of the breach-PR cycle, which with SPE practically became a musical production on ice of clinging to attribution for salvation.
The breach-PR cycle begins when a bad breach occurs.
A neat — or shall we say, Hollywood — ending is needed. An insider rolls in to announce a villain while headlines are still fresh, a role that goes to either a security company or an “unnamed insider.” This misdirects attention from everything that really matters about the crime, and annoys the hell out of those of us in the audience with critical thinking skills.
Sony gave the role to FireEye Inc’s Mandiant forensics unit. Its infosec reputation meant everyone expected that it would “blame China.” So, the Sony hack was a show with a twist ending for some of us. In FireEye’s script, turns out it was North Korea all along.
If this sounds a lot to you like “Colonel Mustard in the Library with the candlestick” then you’re starting to understand the sarcasm and exasperation that led to the creation of Attribution Dice.
Like many, I was delighted to see the creation of Attribution Dice early this year — they’re sort of like sex dice, which unimaginatively reduce foreplay into randomized “Mad Libs,” but for breach blame. The dice finally meant that anyone with $20 could assign attribution like a high-priced security consultant, and predict breach headlines before PR firms have a chance to feed them to reporters.
They sold out on December 2nd, but I think we can expect a lot of hackers over the holidays rolling the dice to wow friends, family and neighbors with their hacker super-cyber-powers.
But blaming North Korea sure didn’t help Sony in court. Sony got an anniversary lump of coal in its stocking last month, in the form of a preliminary settlement in a class action suit against Sony by 435,000 former employees harmed by the hack. On November 25, a year and one day after the hack, a U.S. District Judge batted aside Sony’s attempt to avoid blame by claiming that “injuries were the result of a hack attributed to North Korea.”
So attribution, as a service, is really only selling the idea of knowing who did it. In our current atmosphere it’s more like Three-Card Monte. Which, by the way, is not actually a game.
I think at this point, attribution should always come with a disclaimer — that it’s “for entertainment purposes only.”
[Image credit: – via Getty Images]
Sony Xperia Z5 Premium review
We’ve seen display technology make some dramatic jumps over the years with some of the biggest milestones being the arrival of 720p, 1080p, and QHD mobile displays. Now that QHD has become the standard for flagship devices, we were all wondering when the next evolution in resolution would arrive, and what company would be behind it. As it turns out, the answer to the question comes from an unlikely source, with Sony and their new Xperia Z5 Premium.
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Despite a reluctance to embrace QHD in previous flagships, Sony’s “premium” variant of the Z5 makes a massive leap forward to 4K, but do we really need a 4K display on a smartphone? How does it impact battery life? Also – is 4K set to become the new standard for smartphone panel definition? Let’s find out in this full review of the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium.
Design
The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium looks much like the Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact… and pretty much every other Xperia phone, really! Sony’s design language has changed very little in the past years, which means Sony fans will feel right at home. The rounded corners, glass back and weight will also provide a comfortable, yet solid experience.
The front of the device is dominated by that 4K display, which happens to be flanked by a couple stereo speakers. The bezels on the side are small, but Sony balanced that out with much thicker bezels on the top and bottom. And there’s a well-sized LED light on the top-left corner, letting you know whether there is a reason to turn your display on or not.
On the right-hand side we can find all the buttons. Sony sure found a way to pack as much as possible on the bottom half of one edge of the phone, but that effort proved to be worthless, at least if you have big hands. Maneuvering the device can prove difficult in this case. Not only is there a dedicated camera button and volume rocker, there’s also the now larger power button that has a fingerprint sensor hidden inside of it.
The left edge houses a microSD card slot and a SIM tray under a single flap. I happen to like this set-up, as there is no need for silly pins or weird tools in order to reach any of these components. It’s very handy and keeps everything well protected. And of course, the bottom houses the microUSB port and a 3.5 mm headset jack.
At 7.8 mm of thickness and 180 grams, the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is definitely not the lightest or thinnest, but it doesn’t really aim to be. Sony makes up for this in plenty of ways. The phone feels and looks elegant, especially with the inclusion of the gorgeous glass back.
Display
As you would expect, that 4K display is definitely the biggest selling point of this phone. But it’s also the most controversial aspect of the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium. We’ll start by saying it was an accomplishment, and Sony does deserve mad props for being a first, but it’s certainly not perfect.
We don’t only mean that in the usual way we complain about unnecessary specs. There is a real flaw here! It turns out all the pixels in that 4K panel are taken advantage of only when there is a 4K video playing. Android Lollipop doesn’t yet support 4K definition natively. And get this, Sony is running this thing at 1080p (not even QHD) whenever there isn’t 4K content to be played. To make matters worse, when 4K content actually is playing, it’s not running natively, it is being up-scaled. This translates to lower quality. Isn’t that confusing?
The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium comes with a 5.5-inch 3840×2160 screen. This happens to be an exact multiple of 1920×1080, which is the reason why Sony has opted for 1080p, as opposed to QHD (2560×1440) when it comes to everyday tasks. Regardless, you will just have to use local 4K content, so either record it or download it.
At 806 PPI (Pixels Per Inch), most people would argue that there’s no way you can see a difference, but recent studies would disagree. Apparently the human eye can notice up to 700 or 800 PPI, depending on how good your vision is. We tested the same soccer video in this screen and a 1080p one. The results were clear: there is definitely a difference, even if both looked great.
There’s also the fact that Sony is using LCD instead of the more popular AMOLED panels. What is the difference? Well, the key factors are that LCD panels require the entire screen to be turned on and filters blue light to be turned into white back light. On the other hand, AMOLED panels use individual LEDs that display an array of colors. As a result, colors can be a bit more washed out in LCD panels.
But what about the colors in the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium? We tested these and can tell you the phone has very accurate color reproduction… except for when displaying white, which had the largest delta error in our testing. White comes off with a blue tint, which can explain why colors may appear a bit washed out.
Sony has done a great job making a 4K display that fits in a 5.5-inch panel, but it doesn’t come without compromises. One is that it had to be an LCD panel and the other is the lack of 4K content. Neither are deal breakers necessarily, but definitely something to keep in mind.
See also: Sony Xperia Z5 Compact review
Hardware and performance
Without a doubt, the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium comes with all the necessary specs to offer premium performance. Packed inside is a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and 3 GB of RAM, which places it right in line with other high-end smartphones in the market. The Z5 Premium also features 32 GB of internal storage and a microSD slot (which happens to be a rare thing nowadays). With the ability to expand storage by 200 GB, you can have up to 232 GB of total storage, which will definitely be enough to keep plenty of 4K videos around.
A key feature that sets Sony apart is definitely waterproofing. The Z5 Premium takes advantage of an IP68 rating, which allows for 1.5-meter submersion for up to 30 minutes. And maybe you don’t need that much protection, but a regular phone could get damaged by simply being used in the rain. The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium negates this issue and brings forth the peace of mind you need.
On paper, the front-facing dual speakers should translate to much better sound, right? We put this to the test through measured testing and found out sound quality is on par with the Samsung Galaxy Note 5. It is also below the LG V10 and ZTE Axon, though. That’s just numbers and stats, though. We decided to also let our resident audiophile Rob take the phone for a spin. He says it’s a sound bass lovers will definitely be fans of; it thumbs on kicks, but isn’t over-bearing, and it provides great mids, as well as highs.
The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium also comes with a whole array of connectivity, including Bluetooth 4.1 with apt-x, WiFi n/ac, NFC and FM radio.
This is all powered by an ample 3430 mAh battery. Now, that may sound like a very large battery, but the phone certainly needs it. Our tests show the phone can last up to about 8 hours doing web browsing on a single charge. And because this phone is all about the screen, we also tested it playing video continuously. The Z5 Premium can last about 5 hours and 38 minutes playing 1080p video, while upgrading to 4K takes that number down to 3 hours.
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I was able to make the phone last almost two days, but only sometimes. And that’s the disappointing part – it seems to be a hit-or-miss type of deal. Some real-life scenarios seemed to make very little sense. Take video calling as an example: the other day I did a 90-minute call, which took the battery from 88% to 2 percent.
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But at least there is Quick Charge 2.0 for the times when the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium can’t hold a charge. The only caveat is that a compatible charger is not included, so you must get a Quick Charge 2.0 charger separately. If you do have it, though, it only takes about an hour to get to 60%, and around 90 minutes to hit the 100% mark.
Software
The phone runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, with a planned upgrade to Marshmallow. I can say the overall experience is effective, but lacks that wow factor we all look for. The system has its own tweaks, including some changes to the home screens, app drawers, settings and more.
Sony’s interface has always been quite pleasing to the eye, but I have also realized it can be a bit sluggish. The UI looks sleek, but apparently that’s only a facade. There are noticeable delays when opening games or operating some apps, particularly the camera (slow picture-taking).
Overall, Sony’s interface on the Xperia Z5 Premium is identical to the one found on the Xperia Z5 and the Xperia Z5 Compact, and while it’s definitely functional, the Marshmallow update is when the Xperia Z5 Premium will really shine. It’s unknown whether support for 4K resolution in Marshmallow will mean the Z5 Premium runs natively in 4K all the time, but either way, 4K support should mean a larger array of mobile optimized content.
Camera
One of the biggest changes in the Xperia Z5 line is the camera. The new 23 MP sensor has auto face detection, HDR and a plethora of camera features, as well as the ability to record in 4K. But we have already covered all this in the Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Compact reviews. Instead, we will walk you through some of the images we have taken with the phone.
There’s no denying Sony’s camera can produce some impressive results, but I personally wouldn’t say it’s the best of the best. How would I know? Well, we did put the phone directly against the very best camera phones out there and it seems to be close to them, but definitely not in the top 3.
For me, the biggest issue was inconsistency. In some instances the results were stunning, while in others images were over-processed and seemed to lack detail. There’s not much room for wildlife and landscape photographers here, but it does well for snapshots to share on social media.
All of our pictures were captured in Sony’s Superior Auto mode, which is the default mode, and the one that most people will use the camera in. For those who need more customisable options, Sony has also included a manual mode that allows you to tweak the white balance and ISO. It doesn’t come with the full array of manual controls found on other smartphones, but it should be good enough for most people, save for professional photographers.
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Specifications
| Display | 5.5-inch 4K display with 808 PPI |
| Processor | 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 |
| RAM | 3 GB |
| Storage | 32GB with microSD |
| Network | LTE, LTE Cat6, GSM GPRS/EDGE (2G), UMTS HSPA+ (3G) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1, NFC, A-GPS / Glonass, USB 2.0 |
| Camera | Main cam: 23MP cam with Exmor RS sensor, fast autofocus, 4K video capture and output, 23mm wide-angle G Lens, 5x clear image, HDR, ISO 12800 photo / 4000 vide, Steadyshot tech
Front: 5MP |
| Software | Android 5.1 with Sony UI |
| Battery | 3430 mAh |
| Dimensions | 154.4mm x 75.8mm x 7.8mm, 180 grams |
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Final Thoughts
Innovation certainly doesn’t come cheap. As you might expect, the world’s first 4K smartphone comes with a hefty price tag, but it’s not too far out of reach. The Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is priced at £600, and while not officially sold in the US just yet, you can find it on Amazon for just a little under $700. This will probably price it out of range for most people, but for those willing to spend this much, is the phone worth it? In comparison, the Xperia Z5 costs about $150 less, and the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is a couple of hundred dollars less.
That’s a great question. As far as flagship smartphones go, the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium is definitely up there with the best. Whether it’s worth it or not depends on why you want to buy the Z5 Premium. If you are doing it purely for the 4K display, I would honestly say you should not… or at least give it more thought. After all, it is running at 1080p around 90% of the time. You are probably better off getting a QHD screen that is running a higher definition at all times. However, if you are in the market for other features, such as waterproofing, a good battery life and a great build quality, this is a phone that ticks all the boxes. That said, pretty much all other current Sony devices do, as well.
The real winner in the Xperia Z5 premium specs is the larger display, which some of you may prefer. Just make sure you understand the compromises that the 4K display has to make. Not to mention the fact that you are paying a much higher price for it.
We’ll leave you with this – innovation spurs further innovation. While the 4K screen on the Xperia Z5 Premium is first-generation technology, the world of Ultra HD and beyond on your smartphone is certainly looming, and Sony can safely say it was the first.
Next – Sony Xperia Z5 review
Slow down time with PlayStation 4’s video editor update
Sony has an early gift for you this holiday season: more tools for its PlayStation 4 video editing app, Sharefactory. The electronics giant says that the ability to manipulate time has been among the most requested features and that’s where Time Bender comes in. With it, you can slow nature’s most effective killer down or implement time lapse to your gameplay footage. What’s more, Sony’s also increasing the number of clips that you can add to your masterpiece; the new limit’s 50 for video and 12 for music.
Oh, and Sony’s working on editing contests of sorts as well, dubbed Sharefactory Events. The first one’s in the works right now, and you can expect details of what game developers and publishers will expect for the inaugural event — in terms of creation requirements — fairly soon.
Sony’s also adding a few other bits and bobs including new scene transitions, filters, music tracks and the ability to layer stickers and text. The outfit says so far folks have crafted some 18.9 million videos so far with over 5.1 million downloads of the app itself. So, carry the one… that’s something like three videos per download in around seven months time. Remember though, when there are some 30 million PS4s that ratio is a little less impressive.
Source: PlayStation Blog
Online multiplayer is free this weekend on PS4
Sony is lifting its PlayStation Plus requirement for online multiplayer access on PlayStation 4 this weekend. This means online multiplayer will be free for all PS4 players from Friday, December 11th at 12:01AM PT to Sunday, December 13th at 11:59PM PT. Playing online usually requires a PlayStation Plus subscription, which costs $10 monthly, $18 for a three-month bundle or $50 for an entire year. A Plus membership also guarantees at least two free games and a lineup of discounts every month.
Star Wars: Battlefront is the latest blockbuster game to hit consoles and it happens to be a multiplayer-only experience. This weekend of free multiplayer allows Star Wars fans to try out the new game — and, if Sony’s marketing plan works out, buy a few months of PlayStation Plus afterward.
Source: PlayStation Blog
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